MINIS COLUMN: Piggly Wiggly employee beat the odds

Leroy Mosely was a man who made it against the odds. His grandfather died while raising him in Summerville. Two years later, his mother was raising him in Union Heights, and she died. At 14, Mosely, second oldest of nine children, had experienced two significant losses.

He started working more hours on jobs with his stepfather, a gardener, says Johnny Mosley, a brother who spells his name differently. He also worked more hours at a wood yard in their neighborhood.

Work became more important, and school became less important to Mosely, who paid the family's water bill. Soon, he dropped out of school.

Eventually, he would become "Mr. Leroy" to customers at the Piggly Wiggly store where he worked his way up from bag boy to produce manager, says Tiajuanda Spencer, his daughter. He joined the management team at the Meeting Street store, then went on to work at Kings Plaza and South Windermere.

Mosely was born March 17, 1945, and died Sept. 12.

He spent 35 years with Piggly Wiggly. Along the way, his wife, Mary, taught him how to read, Spencer says. In her eyes, starting out not knowing how to read and making it into management gives her father hero status. It's a status that was elevated in the aftermath of Hurricane Hugo.

"People did not have food and my dad actually went down to Meeting Street Piggly Wiggly and took the boards down and opened up the store," says Spencer, who worked as a cashier there. "He was able to help get the people through. He was on the news for a few minutes. For me, it was awesome."

Produce was a big thing, both at work and home. He encouraged his children to eat fruits and vegetables, and did the same for his 12 grandkids.

"He left no vegetables untouched. Every vegetable was a favorite. But if I had to pick one, it was okra, especially okra soup," Spencer says. "That and the 'soup bunch' he made in the produce department with collard greens, cabbages, onions, rutabagas. He put it together in a package (for sale). We actually cooked it with smoked meat. It was awesome.

"When he became ill and unable to work, his job became making sure the dinner was cooked and the house was clean for his Mary," Spencer says referring to her mother. "He was the fix-it guy. He would be digging in the yard. He was like superguy to us. When it came time that he could not do that anymore, he was embarrassed."

The husband of 40 years did everything a man should do for his family, Spencer says. "He was awesome. That's the word, 'awesome.' That's it for my dad."

About Leroy

Name: Leroy Mosely.

Age: 66.

Community: Ladson.

Memorable characteristicS: He was a hard-working person. Even at home, he was something of a "superguy."

Survivors: Wife, Mary Mosely: children, Juan Mosely, Tiajuanda Spencer, Leroy Mosely Jr. and Owen Q. Mosely; siblings, Delores Ballard, Dr. Anna Aiken, Dorothy A. Woodson, Johnny Mosley, Pricilla Carter, John Ferguson, Mary Washington and Carl Ferguson; 12 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Reach Wevonneda Minis at 937-5705.